Method for interpreting seismic data

Abstract

Method for displaying and interpreting seismic data. Recorded seismic data is used to produce a stereo pair of perspective plots of seismic section for selected areas of the seismic data. The pair of perspective plots are used to produce a stereoscopic view of the seismic section. Examination of the stereoscopic view of the seismic section permits the identification of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits, including positive geophysical characteristics which would not be identifiable by examination of a single perspective plot of a seismic section alone.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. In seismic exploration wherein seismic sources are activated at spaced locations along a line of exploration and the amplitude of reflections of said seismic energy are recorded as a function of time along said line to produce seismograms, a method of interpreting seismic data plotted in a display comprising: preparing a first perspective plot of a seismic section of said seismograms;   preparing a second perspective plot of said seismic section, said second perspective plot prepared by introducing parallax to said first perspective plot;   producing a stereoscopic view of said first and second perspective plots; and   identifying locations of geophysical characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits corresponding to locations on said seismograms by anaylzying said produced stereoscopic view of said first and second perspective plots.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of preparing a first perspective plot of a seismic section of said seismograms comprises the steps of: selecting areas of said seismograms to produce said seismic section;   determining a first, second and third coordinate for each data point of said selected seismic section;   selecting an axis for each of said first, second and third coordinates; and   plotting a first perspective plot of said seismic section.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing parallax to said first perspective plot further comprises the step of shifting the origin of said first perspective plot. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: examining said first perspective plot of said seismic section to identify locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits corresponding to data points on said seismograms; and   comparing said locations of geological characteristic indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits derived from said examination of said first perspective plot of said seismic section and said locations of said geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits derived from said stereoscopic examination of said first and second perspective plots of said seismic section to provide additional information regarding said locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits further comprises the steps of: viewing said first and second perspective plots, one with and the other without introduced parallax, of said seismic section through a stereoscope;   examining said stereoscopic view for geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits; and   identifying the locations of said geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits.   
     
     
       6. In seismic exploration wherein seismic energy is generated at spaced locations along a line of exploration and the amplitude of reflections of said seismic energy are detected as a function of time along said line to produce seismograms, a method of interpreting seismic data plotted in a display comprising: selecting areas of said seismograms to produce a seismic section;   determining a first, second and third coordinate for each data point of said selected seismic section;   selecting an axis for each of said first, second and third coordinates;   plotting a first perspective plot of said seismic section;   introducing parallax to said first perspective plot of said seismic section;   plotting a second perspective plot of said seismic section, said second perspective plot of said seismic section comprising said first perspective plot combined with said introduced parallax;   viewing said first and second perspective plots of said seismic section through a stereoscope;   examining said stereoscopic view of said first and second perspective plots for geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits; and   identifying locations of said geological characteristics indicative of said possible hydrocarbon deposits.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of introducing parallax to said first perspective plot further comprises the step of shifting the origin of said first perspective plot. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of identifying locations of said geological characteristics indicative of said possible hydrocarbon deposits further comprises the steps of: examining said first perspective plot of said seismic section to identify locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits; and   comparing said locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits derived from said examination of said first perspective plot of said seismic section and said locations of said geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits derived from said stereoscopic examination of said first and second perspective plots of said seismic section to provide additional information regarding said locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits.   
     
     
       9. In seismic exploration wherein seismic energy is generated at spaced locations along a line of exploration and the amplitude of reflections of said seismic energy are detected as a function of time along said line to produce seismograms, a method of interpreting seismic data comprising the steps of: plotting a first perspective view of said seismograms;   examining said first perspective plot of said seismograms;   identifying locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits based on said examination of said first perspective plot;   shifting said first perspective view of said seismograms to produce a second perspective view of said seismograms;   plotting said second perspective view of said seismic section;   viewing said first perspective plot of said seismograms and said second perspective plots of said seismograms through a stereoscope;   examining said stereoscopic view of said first and second perspective plots;   identifying locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits based on said stereoscopic examination of said first and second perspective plots;   comparing said locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits derived from said examination of said first perspective plot of said seismograms and said locations of said geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits derived from said stereoscopic examination of said first and second perspective plots of said seismograms to provide additional information regarding said locations of geological characteristics indicative of possible hydrocarbon deposits.